Tagaytay City—Marcryan Mendoza and Aljim Martin duplicated the feat that they pulled off in the massed start road race with an impressive showing Friday in the individual time trial of the Philcycling-Go For Gold National Junior and Youth Trials.
Mendoza submitted the fastest time in the race against the clock, reaching the line in 18 minutes and 6.55 seconds to complete the 13-kilometer course the began and ended at the Praying Hands here.
The son of former rider and duathlete, Ryan Mendoza, again made his father doubly proud after riding almost a minute faster than Efren Reyes Jr., whom he beat in a sprint to the finish in Lian, Batangas the other day.
It will be a no-brainer for the organizers to select both Mendoza and Reyes to become a part of the national junior team as well as Martin, whose 20-second difference from John Paul Laureta readily made him as the most sought-after rider in the youth division.
Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go and Go For Gold project director Ednalyn Hualda will handpick the riders who will race for the national developmental team under Go For Gold.
Martin, cousin of veteran cyclist Ronald Oranza, reached the finish in 13 minutes and 49.60 seconds after 11 kilometers of undulating road in the 14-15 youth division of the two-day tryouts backed by Scratch It, Go For Gold and organized by Philcycling.
Justin Nathaniel Valerio was 20.55 seconds slower than Martin for third place followed by Marc Van Louie Baluyut (23.69 behind), Josue Albert Decuzzar (44.74), Jose Joshua Manalang (50.56) and Joedrei Gonzales (1:01).
Rench Michael Bondoc checked in one minute and 18.8 seconds behind Mendoza in the junior category for third place while Go for Gold rider Ean Cajucom finished fourth, 1:20.88 slower.
Completing the top 10 in the juniors were Landerson Nebres (1:21 behind), Zylex Castillo (1:36), Jhonbyron Lucero (1:49), Teodoro Pablo Jr. (1:58), Rommel Evangelista (2:01) and Sajed Renz Pulayan (2:09).
Harry Dave Abanes placed eighth in the youth (1:08), John Patrick Pagtalunan ended up ninth (1:10) and John Mark Lumanglas 10th (1:14).
